Loose-leaf binder.



E. H. ELDER.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8, 1915.

1,170,654. Patented Feb.- 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I. I

THE COLUMBIA PLANCIGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c.

E. H. ELDER.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3,4915.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I l W I I I I I I I "I I I I u I I I I I I I I I I I I I ,v w M m M 8 Am t;

THE-COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED s rk'rfus ragrnfu'r curios.

EDWARD ELDER, 'OF CHICOPEE;FAI1LS,

BLANK BOOK COMPANY, OF

I-IOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL A VOLUNTARY TRUST ASSOCIATION OF OOPARTNERSHIP HAVING- AS TRUSTEES J. W. TOWNE, F. B. TOWNE, E. S. TOWNE, J. IVI; TOVVNE, AND F. WILSON.

LOOSELEAF BINDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWAR H; ELDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Chicopee Falls, county of IIampden, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in- Loose-Leaf Binders; and-I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in leaf binders and pertains more particularly to binders of this type which employ posts and a top bar which is locked to the posts, the latter engaging on top of the bound leaves as usual.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a lock for the top member in which the parts that engage the respective posts are connected by a compressible spring or its equivalent so that when the parts are moved into locking position the part which engages the post farthest from the key will come in contact with that post before the part adjacent the key engages the other post, so that by continued turning of the key the spring will be compressed to thereby cause it to exert its maximum strength against the farther post and upon the final turning of the key the locking element will exert its functions solely against the other post.

A further object of the invention is to provide a two-part look, i. e. a lock for two posts, which is incorporated in a unitary, or a mechanically integral, structure, and to eliminate the necessity of forming elliptical or elongated slots for the reception of the binder posts, or of requiring absolute accuracy in the spacing of the slots.

Further and other objects of the invention will be manifested and set forth in the course of the following description.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan View of the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view showing the initial action of the key in which the farthest locking part is in engagement with the farthest post; Fig. 1 is a similar view to Fig. 3 showing both parts locked to the posts; Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed. February 8, 1915.-

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

' Serial No. 6,756.

line 66 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the spring connected looking parts; Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the screw bearing; and Fig. 9 is a similar view of the screw.

In accordance with the present invention a base plate 1 has the usual posts 2 attached thereto. The top bar is composed of :1 casing 3 in the interior of which is arranged for sliding movement the post locking parts or'members 4L and 5 connected by the compressible spring 6 which latter is practically rigid with the parts i and 5 and may be of any desired character, though preferably formed of an integral spring plate having the general conformation depicted in the drawings. The spring plate 6 is rigidly connected in any suitable manner at its ends to the parts or members f and 5. The parts 4: and 5 have the post receiving apertures 6 and 7 respectively. One end of the casing 3 is closed by a block 7 and the other end is closed by a block 8 which latter is formed with a screw threaded aperture 9 to receive the screw 10, the screw having a head 11 rotating in a T-shaped slot 12 formed in the part 5. The screw 10 has a key engaging head 13 adapted to be received within the usual socket of a key 14, so as to enable rotation of the screw for the purpose of looking and unlocking the top bar from the posts 2.

In operation, turning of key 14 first causes the wall of aperture 6 of member 4 to impinge against the adjacent post 2, as illustrated in Fig. 8, and upon continued turning of the key, the spring 6 will be compressed until the wall of aperture 7 of member 5 impinges against the other post 2, whereupon the key may be turned to in crease the binding action of part 5 against the adjacent post 2 to the desired extent. It is therefore apparent from the foregoing that the members 1 and 5 do not simultaneously engage the posts, as in prior struc- 'tures of the general type to which the invention pertains, which prior structures requlre absolute accuracy in the spacing of the post receiving slots so that same will simultaneously grip the posts to provide an operative structure. The present invention therefore maintains member 4: in binding engagement with its post by virtue of spring 6 and maintains member 5 in engagement with its post by the screw 10, the latter also acting as a means for compressing or tensioning the spring6.

l/Vhat is claimed is:

1. In combination with the posts of -a binder, a top bar having a pair of movable spring connected locking members for engagement with the respective posts, and means for moving said members to effect the impingement of one locking member against one post and to thereby compress the spring to accentuate such impingement. and to subsequently effect the impingement of the other locking member against the other 0st. p 2. In combination with the posts of a binder, a locking member comprising two plates each perforated to accommodate the respective posts said plates being connected intermediate said perforated portions by a spring element, and means for moving said locking member whereby one of said plates will be impinged against one post while the continued movement of the locking member will effect the impingement of the other plate against the remaining post, the action of the spring element being such that it will plates thus accentuate the contact between one plate and post and will resist the contact between the other plate and post. f. 8. In combination with the posts of a binder, a top bar having a pair of locking members for the posts, means to operate the members and a compressible spring plate rigidly connected to each member whereby when the operating means is moved to actuate the members one of the latter'will be impinged against its post by compression of the spring and subsequently the other member will be impinged against the other post.

4:- In combination with the posts of a binder, a locking member composed of two plates apertured to receive said posts and of rigid formation throughout their extent, a spring element connecting the inner ends of said plates, and means for-operating said connected, whereby the latter will be impinged successively against said posts.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDIVARD H. ELDER.

Witnesses:

Z. D. B. HALLETT, L. V.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). 0. 

